Certain pet car restraints could be unsafeFriday, October 4, 2013

Subaru and the Center for Pet Safety recently released the results a collaborative study on the effectiveness of pet harnesses in a car.

According to the results, Sleepypod's Clickit Utility Harness was named the 2013 Top Performing Harness. As the study indicated there were a number of flaws with many pet restraints on the market, the goal of the study was to find the safest ways pets can ride in the car.

"Safety for all passengers, including our pets, is very important to Subaru and to our drivers. Selecting the wrong harness could be just as detrimental as not using one at all," said Michael McHale, director of communications at Subaru of America Inc. "Most pet owners don't know the dangers of not properly harnessing their pet while in the car. With nearly half of Subaru drivers also being dog owners, we want them to be as informed as possible."

As there are no performance standards in place for pet restraints, many of the products on the market might not be as safe as possible. The study points out that while the companies might say they test their products independently, without uniform standards and protocol, there is no substantial evidence backing their safety. As pets are members of many families, experts note that to keep them safe, they need to be secured with the top-of-the-line pet harnesses

"Subaru and CPS share a common love for pets and safety, and it is our mission to communicate to pet owners that an effective harness should keep the pet in place to prevent distraction to the driver as well as offer measurable levels of protection to all passengers in the event of a crash," said Lindsey Wolko, founder and CEO of the Center for Pet Safety. "I, like many people, consider my dog to be a part of my family, and dogs need to be secured with harnesses that have been tested for safety the same way car seats and seat belts that protect our family members have been tested, both for the pet's safety as well as the safety of all passengers."

Other travel products for pet ownersIn addition to harnesses, pet owners also benefit from equipping their vehicles with Husky Liners® custom fit floor mats. Whether a dog is tracking mud or moisture into a car, these mats ensure a vehicle's carpet stays spotless.